Underweight children may not meet their growth potential or have adequate energy. Being too thin may also set children up for teasing, which can affect self-esteem. If your child is underweight, check with your doctor to rule out food allergies or underlying conditions. A weight gain diet for children requires some creativity, especially if you have a picky eater.
Calorie Needs
The number of calories your child needs to gain weight depends on his age and size. Check with your physician for guidelines. Generally, adding 500 to 1,000 calories per day will result in a 1- to 2-lb. weight gain per week.
Features
A weight gain diet for children features calorie-dense, healthy foods. Choose foods that add calories and extra protein, calcium, fiber and vitamins. Examples of healthy, high-calorie foods are peanut or other nut butters, whole milk, cheese, healthy carbohydrates such as rice or oatmeal, and protein-rich foods, including meat, chicken and beans. While vegetables and fruits are still important for nutrition, a weight gain diet may emphasize starchy or fatty versions such as peas, sweet potatoes, corn and avocados.
Strategies
Instead of pushing three meals per day, work with your child's appetite. Allow your child to snack often or graze throughout the day. Offer snacks such as dried fruit, pudding, smoothies and peanut butter sandwiches. Work with your child to figure out the foods she enjoys, as weight gain cannot occur if she refuses to eat. Discourage juice drinking, especially with meals, as it may fill your child up and prevent her from eating adequate amounts of whole food.
Calorie Boosts
If your child complains of a weak appetite, increase the calorie content of the foods he will eat. Add dry milk powder to his liquid milk to double the calories, or stir it into pancake batter, cereal or meatballs. Make smoothies with ice cream or heavy cream and fresh fruit. Top pasta and scrambled eggs with melted cheese. Dip vegetables into dressings made with mayonnaise. Mix olive oil into noodles before adding sauce.
Meal Ideas
Breakfasts might include toast with cream cheese and scrambled eggs, French toast with fruit and whipped cream or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. For lunch, offer pasta with olive oil and meatballs, bean burritos made with guacamole, cheese and sour cream or sandwiches with cheese and mayonnaise. At dinner, serve macaroni and cheese, baked potatoes loaded with cheese and sour cream, or pizza made with whole grain crust, ground meat and extra cheese. Snack foods include dried fruits, nuts -- if your child is old enough -- crackers with peanut butter, smoothies or buttered whole wheat English muffins.
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